Access to Public Law
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education and community care, with an office listed in Lancaster.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Discrimination when using a service, shop, school or public body
This can include shops, transport, health services, housing providers and schools. Specialist discrimination advice is available.
What to do first
- Keep a note of what happened, when, and who you spoke to. Written complaints can help, but get advice if a deadline might apply.
- The Equality Advisory and Support Service provides free discrimination advice in England, Scotland and Wales.
- Some law centres and solicitor firms hold Legal Aid Agency discrimination or education contracts, which may help with goods and services or education discrimination if you qualify.
- For disability discrimination in a school or connected with an EHC plan, also see the education pathway.
This is information, not legal advice. Rules and deadlines change. Confirm with an adviser and official sources before you act.
Listings that may help
Barcan and Kirby LLP
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in Bristol with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.
Community care and discrimination
Bindmans LLP
Legal aid
London law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 484856.
Community care and discrimination
Blackett Hart and Pratt LLP
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in the North East with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.
Community care and discrimination
Bristol Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Law centre providing free legal advice in Bristol and beyond, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for discrimination and public law.
Community care and discrimination
Central England Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Law centre with offices in Coventry and Birmingham, holding Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, community care, discrimination and public law.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Children's Law Centre
Free
Northern Ireland charity providing free legal advice and representation on children's rights, including special educational needs and disability, and representation at SENDIST.
SEND and education · Tribunal representation
Citizens Advice Gateshead
FreeLegal aid
Citizens Advice service in the North East with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits and discrimination, as well as general free advice.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
CJCH Solicitors
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in Wales with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.
Community care and discrimination
Coram Children's Legal Centre
FreeLegal aid
Not-for-profit legal centre part of the Coram group, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, including work for children and young people.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Deighton Pierce Glynn
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with a Legal Aid Agency public law contract and offices listed in London and Bristol, listed on the SRA register as organisation 552088. In the November 2026 Legal Aid Agency directory the contract recorded for this firm is public law only.
Community care and discrimination
Disability Law Service
FreeLegal aid
Charity providing free legal advice for disabled people and carers on community care, employment, housing, discrimination, public law and welfare benefits. It also has a legal aid service for some cases.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and public law at offices across England and Wales, listed on the SRA register as organisation 309586.
Community care and discrimination
Enquire
Free
The Scottish advice service for additional support for learning, offering free advice to families, young people and professionals.
SEND and education
Equality Advisory and Support Service
Free
Free service providing advice on discrimination and human rights issues in England, Scotland and Wales. It can help you understand your rights and next steps; it is not a solicitor firm.
Community care and discrimination
Gold Jennings
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Greater Manchester Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Not-for-profit law centre offering legal advice in Greater Manchester, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, discrimination and public law.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Harrow Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Law centre in north-west London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, education and public law, including education work that can cover special educational needs.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · SEND and education · Tribunal representation
Hodge Jones and Allen LLP
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for discrimination and public law.
Community care and discrimination
IPSEA
Free
Independent Provider of Special Education Advice. A leading England-wide charity giving free, independent legal advice and tribunal support to families of children and young people with SEND. It is not a solicitor firm.
SEND and education · Tribunal representation
Irwin Mitchell LLP
Legal aid
National law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education (including work that can cover SEND), community care and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 570654. Legal aid is means- and merits-tested.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Julie Burton Law
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in North Wales with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.
Community care and discrimination
Kirklees Citizens Advice and Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Citizens Advice and law centre serving Kirklees, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits and discrimination.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Lawstop
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, with offices listed in London, Brighton, Cambridge and Nottingham.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Legal Services Agency
Free
Scottish legal charity based in Glasgow. Its Disability and Social Justice Project helps disabled people with legal issues, including disability discrimination and related social welfare matters.
Community care and discrimination · Benefits advice and welfare rights
Leigh Day
Legal aid
Law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care, discrimination and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 67679.
Community care and discrimination
Mackintosh Law
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in London with a Legal Aid Agency community care contract.
Community care and discrimination
Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and public law, listed on the SRA register as organisation 667458.
Community care and discrimination
Simpson Millar LLP
Legal aid
Law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 424940.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Sinclairslaw
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, with offices listed in Cardiff and London.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
SNAP Cymru
Free
Wales-wide charity providing free, independent information and advice on additional learning needs and special educational needs.
SEND and education
Southwark Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Law centre in South London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, discrimination and public law.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Special Educational Needs Advice Centre
Free
Independent advice centre supporting parents of children with special educational needs in Northern Ireland.
SEND and education
Stephensons Solicitors LLP
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in the North West with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and discrimination.
Community care and discrimination
T V Edwards LLP
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for community care and public law.
Community care and discrimination
Watkins and Gunn
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education and public law in Wales.
SEND and education
Watkins Solicitors
Legal aid
Solicitor firm listed in the Legal Aid Agency directory as Watkins Solicitors Inc Brain Sinnott & Co, with education and public law contracts in the South West.
SEND and education